People can now earn a finder's fee when they refer customers to Google for its Apps email and collaboration suite.

The Google Apps for Business Referral Program is open to participants in the U.S. and Canada. It pays US$15 for every user account in a referred customer's domain, up to a maximum of 100 users, or $1,500. Users must maintain their Apps account for a minimum of 120 days.

Google will offer program participants coupons and other incentives to entice prospects to sign up, as well as templates for their email campaigns and websites. Customers must use the participant's unique referral link to sign up for Apps.

Participants can refer an unlimited number of prospective customers. Google will deposit payments directly into participants' bank accounts.

This new Apps for Business Referral Program complements the suite's existing Reseller Program, which is designed for VARs, consultants and system integrators who, beyond the initial referral, maintain a post-sales relationship with their customers, offering them other types of assistance, like technical services, billing and IT management.